As a result of an Illinois Innovation Talent grant for which Mrs. Reavley applied, Astoria High School students have been given a unique opportunity to participate in a problem-based learning activity and at the same time help the Meredosia Wildlife Refuge. Recently students have surveyed the land in order to make a brochure to inform the public of its attributes.

Before the volunteers could step foot onto the refuge, they had to acquire certain talents to help them with their task: to take clear nature photography, to identify the plants and animals in the refuge, and to operate GPS (Global Positioning System), mapping out the trail and marking where on the trail or out in the refuge the wildlife was seen.

Volunteers formed four teams; each group had to have one photographer, one identifier, and one GPS operator. As practice, the students surveyed the school grounds, making their own trail and setting marks on the GPS. The identifiers set out into the woods to test out their skills. Once they had their information, each group made a brochure of the school grounds. After that they all came together and discussed what they liked or disliked about the mock brochures and what they could use for the Meredosia Wildlife Refuge brochure.

Now prepared, they set a date for Meredosia. They went Saturday, September 20, and were met by Mr. Fisher, a Wildlife Refuge officer, who gave the students some background information on the area and a start with their jobs. He pointed out specific wildlife, the trail, and other interesting points that could go into the brochure. Once he was done instructing the students, they set out on their own to use the talents they had acquired. They thoroughly checked the area to make sure nothing was missed before they left.

When they returned home, the photographers had to download the photos to the computer. Then the GPS people placed the correct coordinates on the proper photo, and the identifiers named each object in the photo. The final step will be to plan the brochure, deciding what photos they will use along with what information they will put into the brochure. Once completed, the brochure will be sent to the Meredosia Wildlife Refuge, which will be able to use the brochure as a trail guide with visitors to the refuge.